No time for celebration as threat still looms over borders: PTI

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Information Secretary Sh. Waqas Akram Tuesday strongly condemned India’s increasingly aggressive posture, stating that New Delhi continued to portray Pakistan’s peace overtures as its Achilles’ heel.

In a statement, he said this dangerous misconception persisted despite a humiliating blow inflicted by Pakistan on Narendra Modi’s arrogance.

He made it clear that New Delhi seemed bent on weaponising water, as the bloodthirsty Modi not only categorically stated that ‘water and blood cannot flow together’, but also reportedly ordered expeditious planning and execution of projects on Chenab, Jhelum and Indus rivers.

Moreover, he continued, India was also going ahead with doubling the Ranbir Canal’s length from 60km to 120 km on the Chenab — a blatant violation of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).

Waqas said the proposed expansion of the Ranbir Canal would reduce Pakistan’s water supply from the Chenab River by nearly 20 percent, which was a deeply alarming development.

He urged that Pakistan must adopt a proactive and robust strategic response to counter India’s persistent violations of the IWT.

He noted that New Delhi had consistently misconstrued Islamabad’s peace overtures as weakness, emboldening dangerous provocations including past violations of Pakistani airspace and attacks on civilian and military installations under false-flag operations.

“We cannot afford to remain in celebratory complacency while this existential threat looms on our borders, as overconfidence in the face of clear and present dangers is a perilous mistake,” he warned.

Waqas urged the government to reassess its current approach and shift focus from mere optics and short-term political gains to long-term national interest and regional deterrence.

“The state must immediately engage international stakeholders, including the United Nations, the World Bank, and global powers, to highlight the alarming developments on the water front,” he said.

He emphasized that the hybrid regime must realize that it is the unity of the people — not suppression of dissent — that can put the country back on the right track. However, he stated that instead of uniting the nation and formulating a strong strategy against external threats, the government was more concerned about clinging to power and pleasing its coalition partners.

“It is sabotaging national unity through oppressive and coercive measures,” he said.

Waqas demanded immediate release of all political prisoners, including PTI chairman-for-life Imran Khan, as a necessary step toward national reconciliation and unity.

He further condemned the government’s attempts to stifle dissent by restricting internet access and targeting platforms like YouTube, emphasizing that digital warriors had played a crucial role in exposing and countering India’s false, propaganda-driven narrative.

He underlined the need that IMF must reconsider its policy of conditioning new loans with additional taxes that would further burden and squeeze the already struggling masses.

Instead, he demanded that these loans should mandate strict austerity measures, forcing the government to slash extravagant expenditures, eliminate lavish perks and privileges, and implement genuine structural reforms to revive our lifeless economy.